Transgenerational Child Rearing

Transgenerational pattern of child rearing refers to the idea that “family factors are transmitted from generation to generation”. These factors include, but are not limited to, personality characteristics, religious beliefs, value of education, and child rearing techniques. I interpret it to mean that we will raise our children according to how we were raised ourselves in terms of discipline and how we react to certain situations.

Many factors contribute to children becoming aggressive. Among the most important, in my opinion, is how aggressive ones parents’ are. The author offers the modeling theory as a factor also. The child demonstrates behaviors that it leans from their parents. Some aggression may also be due to “inherited predisposition and temperament”. Another factor can be the amount of violence the child is exposed to via the media.

Until reading this article I was completely unaware that corporal punishment was still allowed in some states. I guess since I grew up in New York, where corporal punishment is illegal; the idea is completely foreign to me. I am one hundred percent against corporal punishment in schools, or in the home.

I don’t believe it’s a proper form of punishment for many reasons. First of all, I believe it to be a form of abuse. Being abused in front of peers can be demoralizing, and create low self esteem for the child.